He Is Risen: Confess, Believe, Find Peace

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection is a Truth That Stood the Test of Time

The resurrection of Jesus is not a legend that was embellished over centuries. It is a historical event, verified by eyewitnesses and sealed by the testimony of countless martyrs. This truth provides a firm foundation for our faith, assuring us that our hope is not built on a myth but on a reality that has endured every scrutiny. It is a truth that has the power to transform lives and grant eternal peace. [49:04]

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (ESV)

Reflection: What doubts or questions about the resurrection have you encountered, either from others or in your own heart? How does the historical evidence and the witness of millions who have died for this truth help to strengthen your faith?

Day 2: Confess and Believe for Salvation and Peace

Our salvation rests on a simple, profound act: confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. This is the gateway from a life of fear and sin to a life of freedom and peace with God. It is not a complex formula but a heartfelt trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and His victory over the grave. This belief brings us into a right relationship with our Creator. [52:13]

Romans 10:9-10
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)

Reflection: When you consider the statement “Jesus is Lord,” what area of your life feels most resistant to His authority? What would it look like this week to actively surrender that area to Him through both belief and confession?

Day 3: The Crucifixion Demonstrates God’s Incomprehensible Love

The physical and spiritual agony Jesus endured was not a random tragedy but a deliberate sacrifice. From the garden to the cross, He willingly took upon Himself the full weight of our sin and shame. The depth of this suffering reveals the even greater depth of God’s love for us—a love so vast that He would give His only Son to secure our redemption. We can scarcely comprehend such a love, yet we are invited to receive it. [55:11]

Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

Reflection: Is there a specific failure or shame from your past that you struggle to believe God has fully forgiven? How might meditating on the specific physical cost Jesus paid change your perspective on His love for you?

Day 4: The Empty Tomb Changes Everything

The empty tomb is the pivotal point of all human history. It confirms that Jesus’ death was sufficient and that His power over sin and death is absolute. This event transforms a story of a martyr into the victory of a Savior. Because the tomb is empty, our lives do not have to be filled with despair, fear, or hopelessness. We serve a living Christ who intercedes for us and empowers us to live for Him. [01:10:42]

Matthew 28:5-6
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” (ESV)

Reflection: In what circumstance or relationship in your life are you most tempted to live as if the tomb were still full—as if despair, and not resurrection power, has the final word?

Day 5: We Are Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ

For those who are in Christ, God no longer sees our sin and failure. When He looks upon us, He sees the perfect righteousness of His Son. This is not a righteousness we could ever earn, but a gift we receive through faith. This truth liberates us from the need to prove our worth and allows us to rest securely in our identity as forgiven, cherished, and completely accepted children of God. [43:10]

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

Reflection: How does your daily life change when you truly embrace that your standing before God is based on Christ’s perfection and not your own performance?

Sermon Summary

The resurrection stands as the decisive truth that shapes faith, not a legend that accrued details over time. Scripture presents Jesus as the Messiah and God incarnate, fulfilling dozens of precise prophecies about birthplace, lineage, sinless life, suffering, and rising again. Romans 10:9 frames the response: confess with the mouth and believe in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and one receives justification, rescue from sin’s power, and peace with God. Historical and medical evidence underscore the reality of death and empty tomb—from eyewitness reports and early creedal statements to physiological details around the crucifixion—so the resurrection functions as historical proof rather than devotional fiction.

The resurrection transforms personal status before God: sins get the legal payment they require, believers receive the righteousness of Christ, and reconciliation with God becomes actual peace. That peace then reorients relationships; the community focus on the “one another” commands aims to make faith visible in daily life—homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods—so peace spreads beyond private conviction into public witness. The record of many witnesses, the radical life changes among disciples, and the testimony of those who suffered and died for the faith all argue that belief in the risen Christ answers both the intellect and the heart. The call that follows is simple and urgent: confess, believe, and share. Confession and faith lead to new life; sharing the proclamation invites others into the same peace and transformation.

Key Takeaways

1. Confess and believe in Jesus Confession and inward belief form the biblical gate to justification: naming Jesus as Lord and trusting his resurrection addresses guilt and restores standing before God. This confession does not merely acknowledge facts; it enacts a covenantal turn from death to life and initiates union with Christ. The call is deliberate and immediate—faith that is both confessed and held in the heart results in salvation. [51:30]
2. The resurrection rests on witnesses The empty tomb and the volume of eyewitness testimony refuse the notion of a legend that developed over centuries. Early creeds and the testimony of hundreds who saw the risen Lord give historical weight that demands intellectual engagement rather than dismissal. Those witnesses changed from fear to courageous testimony, demonstrating the resurrection’s life-altering reality. [71:31]
3. Death’s reality underscores the miracle The physical horrors of scourging, hematohidrosis, crucifixion, and the outflow of blood and water point strongly to an actual death, making the subsequent bodily resurrection extraordinary and decisive. Medical and historical detail removes easy naturalistic explanations and highlights the cost paid on Good Friday. The reality of death magnifies the significance of rising again—proof that the curse could be broken. [64:13]
4. Peace follows justification by faith Justification by faith yields real peace with God, not mere intellectual assent. That peace changes the soul’s standing and empowers a life no longer enslaved to sin, enabling believers to pursue peace with others as commanded. The transformation that follows becomes the primary evidence of the resurrection’s present power. [74:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:03] - Opening Prayer and Easter Praise
[41:50] - Celebration of the Resurrection
[43:10] - Sins Nailed to the Cross
[47:16] - One Anothers and Pursuing Peace
[51:30] - Romans 10:9: Confess and Believe
[64:13] - Medical Evidence for Crucifixion and Death
[71:31] - Empty Tomb and Eyewitness Testimony
[77:05] - Call to Confess, Believe, Share
[78:54] - Invitation to Faith and Prayer
[85:28] - Grow in Fellowship and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) - because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Observation questions

According to Romans 10:9, what two specific actions are required for salvation?
The sermon mentioned that the resurrection is a historical event, not a legend. What are some of the pieces of evidence presented, like the number of witnesses or the empty tomb? [01:11:31]
What does the medical and historical evidence about the crucifixion tell us about the reality of Jesus' death? [01:04:13]
What is the result of being justified by faith, according to the truth found in Romans 5:1, which was alluded to in the sermon? [01:14:56]

Interpretation questions

Why is it significant that belief must be "in the heart" and not just an intellectual acknowledgment of facts?
The early creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 was written within a few years of the events. How does the timing of this testimony challenge the idea that the resurrection story grew over time? [01:11:31]
If the Roman soldiers faced death for failing their guard duty, why does their story about the disciples stealing the body actually support the claim that the tomb was empty? [01:09:35]
What does it mean to have "peace with God," and how is that different from simply feeling peaceful?

Application questions

Confessing with your mouth is a public declaration. Who is one person in your life that you could tell about your belief in Jesus as Lord this week?
The resurrection transforms a person's status before God, freeing them from the power of sin. What is one area of your life where you need to live more fully in that freedom and power this week?
Having peace with God is meant to reorient our relationships with others. Is there a relationship in your home, workplace, or neighborhood where you are being called to actively pursue peace? What would a first step look like?
Millions have been convinced of the resurrection to the point of sacrificing their lives. How does their testimony challenge or strengthen your own willingness to share your faith when it feels uncomfortable? [01:10:42]
The call is to confess, believe, and share. What is one practical way you can "share the proclamation" and invite someone else into the same peace and transformation you have found? [01:17:05]
If God sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ, how should that truth change the way you view yourself when you feel guilty or ashamed?

Sermon Clips

27s

#EarlyCreedProof

“As Strobel went and said, okay, let me see what they were saying at first. Maybe they were saying at first that he was just a good teacher who who died. And then maybe over the centuries, they started saying he rose again, and they saw the first Corinthians chapter 15 creed It was written within months of the resurrection of Christ that said that he was buried, died, and rose on the third day, lightning fast from a historical time frame. This wasn't something that grew over time.”

31s

#PilateConfirmedDeath

“Sorry. It's Easter. You're like, that's Good Friday. But Easter doesn't come unless Good Friday happens. And he loved you that much that he was willing to endure all of that. And besides that, even secular historians like Josephus and Tacitus said that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate's watch, confess and believe that Jesus died. Good night.”

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He Is Risen: Confess, Believe, Find Peace

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection is a Truth That Stood the Test of Time

Day 2: Confess and Believe for Salvation and Peace

Day 3: The Crucifixion Demonstrates God’s Incomprehensible Love

Day 4: The Empty Tomb Changes Everything

Day 5: We Are Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

He Is Risen: Confess, Believe, Find Peace

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